Box Of Frogs - Box Of Frogs / Strange Land (1998)

Originally a reunion, of sorts, between former Yardbirds mainstays Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja and mate Paul Samwell-Smith, this pair of early-80s releases by the threesome's new band stand quite well on their own, thank you. Kicking out an inspired blend of blues-infused rock and British-styled pop, the former Y-Birds trio, along with vocalist/guitarist John Fiddler, crafted a couple of timeless rock releases that have withstood the cultural ravages of almost a decade and a half.

Although considered mere curiosities at the time of their release, notable for guest appearances by Yardbirds' alumni Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, the self-titled debut and the Strange Land follow-up were pretty much lost amid the hype and furor of MTV and the one-hit wonders that media forum created. 'Tis a shame, too, since both albums are full of solid musical moments. The first album's haunting, bittersweet "Into The Dark," with British jazz great Guy Barker, or the unrelenting boogie riffs of the album-opening "Back Where I Started" stand out, as does the second album's bluesy, syncopated "House On Fire" or the powerful revisiting of the Yardbirds' classic "Heart Full Of Soul."

More notable, to my mind, than either Beck's or Page's minuscule musical contributions to these discs are those of guest guitarist Rory Gallagher. Gallagher's six-string work and sitar flourishes shine brightly, fitting seamlessly with the band's approach. Truly one of the music world's great lost blues guitarists, Gallagher's underrated talents are right at home with those of McCarty, Dreja and Samwell-Smith. (Renaissance Records)

(Click on the CD cover to buy Box Of Frogs/Strange Land from Amazon.com)